Garter clasp



Jan.6, 1953 w. l. HATCH ET AL 2,6

7 GARTER CLASP Filed Sept. 10, 1951 fig: 5L 3% IN VEN TOR. m c9- Wd-J%6M 6. Wa e L fixiy QM Patented Jan. 6, 19 53 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEGARTER CLASP Walter I. Hatch and Edna B. Hatch, North Sacramento, Calif.

Application September 10, 1951, Serial No. 245,798

1 Claim. (Cl. 24-246) I This invention relates to improvements in garterclasps and provides a new and highly efiicient clasp which is adjustableon garter elastic as desired, and which effectively maintains itsadjustment irrespective of stresses applied, and, in the preferred formof the invention, the garter clasp is formed entirely of non-metallicmaterial, and as a single element which includes integrally the claspingmeans and the adjusting and securing means for the elastic, the materialpreferably used being sufliciently flexible for convenient operation ofthe clasping means yet sufiiciently rigid to prevent longitudinal bowingor collapsing of the element.

The objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:

First, to provide a garter clasp which is formed as a single elementincluding stocking clasping means and garter elastic attaching means.

Second, to provide a garter clasp as outlined which is formed entirelyof non-metallic material which is sufiiciently flexible to permitconvenient operation of the clasping means yet sufficiently rigid toprevent distortion of the body of the element under stress.

Third, to provide a garter clasp as outlined in which the attachingmeans includes means for adjusting the elastic longitudinally at willand which will efficiently maintain the adjusted position irrespectiveof stresses applied between the garter clasp and the elastic.

Fourth, to provide a garter clasp in which the cooperative claspingmeans are formed. at the respective end portions of a relatively thinstrip of material to be doubled centrally of the length for cooperationbetween the cooperative clasping means with the doubled portions to besecured together by a strip of garter elastic and which ooincidentlysecures the elastic to the garter clasp.

Fifth, to provide a garter clasp as outlined in which all edges arereinforced to increase the strength and rigidity and provide increasedroundness of the edges for comfort and to obviate possibility ofabrasion or irritation.

Sixth, to provide a garter clasp which is molded as a single elementwith an integral clasp button formed adjacent one end and a buttonholeformed in the other end portion and with adjusting and securing meansfor the garter elastic formed intermediately.

Seventh, to provide a garter clasp with a clasp button having a head anda neck and with the upper portion of the head flatted to coincidencewith the periphery of the neck to obviate bulging with consequentpossible rupturing of the portion of a stocking applied thereover.

Eighth, to provide a garter clasp which is formed complete in a singleoperation and therefor of the utmost economy in manufacture.

In describing the invention reference will be had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates the method of applying and adjusting the elastic.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the garter clasp as assembled with the garterelastic and with the clasp attached to the top of a stocking.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

The invention can be formed of any suitable material, but is preferablyformed of non-metallic medium flexible material such as vinyl plasticswhich are particularly suitable since they combine suitable rigidity toprevent folding or collapse of the element under stress while beingsufiiciently flexible for convenient operation of the clasping means.

The clasp can be formed of any suitable sheet material with the buttonwelded or cemented in place but is preferably formed as a singleintegral unit by molding whereby, when the element is removed from thmold, it is ready for use simply by doubling and then threading thegarter elastic therein through the securing and adjusting means, andobviously is marketed in its normal form as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Themost satisfactory material for this clasp is polyethylene formulation ofplastics.

The garter clasp It has a clasp button ll formed adjacent one end, thisbutton having a head l2 and a neck l3, the upper portion of the headbeing flatted coincident with the periphery of the neck as indicated atI4 to avoid bulging thereover of the clasped portion of the stocking I4and thus preventing rupture of the fibers of the stocking.

The very end of this portion of the element is increased in thickness asindicated at 15, tapering upwardly to normal thickness adjacent thelower edge of the button as indicated at 16 to more efficientlycooperate with the other end portion I! which has a buttonhole it withan elongated clasping slot [9 extending from a button passage 20, thetwo end portions of the element being narrowed as shown. Indents 2| areprovided in the respective longitudinal edges midway between the twoends to provide a bend point for doubling the element for use.

A series of elongated transverse slots is provided in each section asrelated to the bend point, there being three slots 22, 23 and 24 formedin the buttonhole section 25, and four slots 26, 21, 28 and 29 formed inthe other or button section 30, and one slot 3| is formed with one edge32 coincident with the bend line 33.

The slots 22, 23, 26 and 21 are relatively narrow since only one'thickness of elastic is threaded through them, these slots beingapproximately inch across.

The remaining slots are to have two thicknesses of elastic threadedthrough them and therefore must have a wider gap, not less than inch,and at least the slots in the button end have peripheral reinforcementas indicated at 34.

The buttonhole is also peripherally reinforced as indicated at 35, andperipheral reinforcement is provided about the entire element except atthe bend line. The thickness of the body 31 of the element is madepreferably about .040 inch in thickness and the reinforcement in theform of a peripheral bead adds about ,4,4 inch, making the totalthickness through the reinforced portions about 3% inch. This increasedthickness also provides for a rounded edge of greater radius asindicated at 33 to guard against abrasion and irritation.

In assembling the garter clasp with a ribbon of garter elastic, theelement is first doubled by bending at the bend line 33. The garterelastic is threaded down through the central slot 3| at the bend asindicated at 39, out through slot 29 as indicated at 40, back throughslot 28 as indicated at M, then across through slot 2 as indicated at42, back through slot 23 as indicated 43 and across and through slot 21as indicated at 44, back through slot 26 as indicated at 45 and acrossand through slot 22 as, indicated at 45 and back through slot 24 asindicated at 41 and across and through slot 28 as indicated at 48 andback through slot 29 and up through slot 3! as indicated at 49.

After the main strand has been adjusted to the desired length, thestrand 49 is drawn through tight, drawing the two sections 25 and 36together at 5| leaving the tabs 52 and 53 free for clasping to astocking or the like.

When adjustment of the elastic is desired, a relatively thin instrumentsuch as a nail file is inserted under the respectivev turns 54, 55, 56toloosen them to permit the elastic to be advanced or retracted as maybe necessary. When the elastic is drawn tight it is firmly held andcannot give or slip under stresses set up between the clasp and theelastic.

Thus a single element formed as a unit provides a complete adjustableclasp for stockings and the like and one which is formed entirely ofnon-metal in its preferred form.

We claim:

A garter clasp comprising an elongated element formed throughout solelyof, plastic material having flexibility and resiliency and relativelynon-elastic. and having cooperative clasping means including abuttonhole consisting of a button passage and a clasping slot extendingtherefrom and formed in one end portion, and abutton having a head and aneck and formed integrally with the other end portion of said element, aribbon of garter elastic, said element having a width greater than saidribbon and including integral securing means provided in the centralportion for the ribbon of elastic, said element being foldable centrallyof its length for cooperation between the clasping means, said securingmeans comprising a central. transverse slot formed centrally of thelength of the element and including four spaced, transverse. slotsformed inonev half of the elementv containing the button, and threespaced transverse slots. formed in the other half. containing, thebutton? hole and registrable with three of. said four slots, with themost distant slots from the center of the element being locatedapproximately halfway between the center'and endsof the. element, andastrip of garter elastic. threaded through said central slot andtransversely through the registrable slots to secure the elastic: inadjusted.

position as desired and secure thev respective halves togetherintermediate the length withthe end portions free for operation. ofv the:clasping means.

WALTER I. HATCI-L EDNAB, HATCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS are of record in the-

